05/15/2015

Maitland-Smith proudly introduced a new collection of over 50 accessories by Alexa Hampton at the April 2015 High Point Furniture Market.

Alexa Hampton, Mark Hampton LLC, New York, has completed a wide range of designs for domestic and international projects from New York City to Hangzhou, China, including apartments and large residences, private airlanes and yachts. A perennial member of Architectural Digest's AD100 and House Beautiful's Top Designer list as well as a member of Elle Decor's A-list, Hampton's work is classic and eclectic.

Hampton has a growing stable of acclaimed products for the home including her own furniture line at our sister company, Hickory Chair.

Additionally, she is the author of two renowned books: the Language of Interior Design, and Decorating in Detail.

The Alexa Hampton for Maitland-Smith collection of accessories includes paperweights, urns, tazzas, trays, obelisks, boxes, candlesticks and other finely made decorative objects.

Following are a sample of her amazing new accessories.

This is a set of three stone balls in various colors on black stone bases.

One of several obelisks in the collection, this one features multi-stone inlay.

01/29/2015

The nesting I am referring to has nothing to do with birds. Rather, it has to do with entertaining friends who gather to watch the Super Bowl or other big game.

These nests are nesting tables that store together to conserve space, but which can be separated, providing more table surface for snacks and beverages.

Nesting tables come in a variety of styles to enhance different types of decor.

These three tables have an ebony finish with inlaid marquetry in different animal print patterns.

Inlaid golden capiz shell sets these apart. The form is the same as the previous, but the finish is black lacquer.

Argyle, houndstooth and herringbone are the inlay patterns for this set of nesting tables with a textile influence.

Round gray nesting tables have a more transitional style, and they are covered in faux shagreen textured leather.

These few examples show a variety of nesting tables that are available from Maitland-Smith. More classic styling is seen here with Antique Regency finish and inlaid marquetry.

Remember, Superbowl Sunday is February 1, so you don't have a lot of time. If you are expecting a gang to watch the game with you, you might want to invest in some nesting tables to keep food and beverages close by so more time can be spent watching the game.

Elegant and distinctive pieces for your home today, with quality and style to last a lifetime…..Do you have a Maitland-Smith treasure?

09/23/2014

Today is the first day of fall - that day when the light and the darkness are equal. It also means that after today, the days will continue to get shorter, and the temperatures will get cooler. After the hot, humid summer days, the fall is refreshing and much welcomed. The air feels crisp and leaves start to turn and the days at the beach are just a memory. Often our attention turns to football games and tailgating.

Speaking of football games, if you can't make it to the game, the space must be made ready to enjoy the games to the max at home. The first thing necessary is, of course, a big screen TV. Some snacks and favorite potables, and nothing is needed but the big game and some friends.

What better way to hold the big screen TV, than with this handsome TV stand. It has a mahogany and black lacquer finish with gold gilding and brass accents and has the added bonus of lots of storage.

A space saver is the TV on the wall. This is a two-way mirror TV cabinet (shown with TV on and off), with inlaid leather with gold trim. When the TV is off, only the mirror is visible and the TV blends in as part of the decor -- definitely a win-win.

Since Fall is a favorite season for many, it seems it speeds along faster than it should. Take time to walk in the leaves and make some fall memories and watch some football with friends.

Elegant and distinctive pieces for your home today, with quality and style to last a lifetime.... Do you have a Maitland-Smith treasure? www.maitland-smith.com

08/08/2014

Summer is a great time to slip away from the hustle and bustle of work to spend time at the shore. There is something so restorative about walking on a beach with warm sand in our toes and soft breezes in our hair. One can't help but notice the sandpipers scurrying back and forth avoiding the waves, the pelicans that fly in a group, skimming the surface of the water or the stately egrets wading in the inlet.

Summer is almost over, and our time at the shore, nice as it is, will soon come to an end.

To keep the memory of the shore alive in your home, here are some fun, shore birds in home accessories and lighting.

The wine holder has white oyster shell inlay and the handsome pelican is cast brass.

A decorative lamp with a pair of brass cranes has soft light glowing from the wings inlaid with young tiger penshell.

A bit of whimsy is seen in this brass heron peeking over the top of the hand-sewn silk shade. His wings are also penshell. He can't be missed because he stands 40" tall.

If you are one of the fortunate ones living near the shore, you have plenty of opportunity to see the birds first hand. For the rest of us, we can have a bit of shore in home furnishings to remind us of the relaxing, lazy days by the water.

Elegant and distinctive pieces for your home today, with quality and style to last a lifetime.... Do you have a Maitland-Smith treasure? www.maitland-smith.com

07/10/2014

The familiar lyrics of the song recorded by Bill Haley and the Comets say, "See you later, Alligator," with the response, "After while, crocodile." But once you get these whimsical alligator-inspired pieces by Maitland-Smith in your home, you won't want to say goodbye or later to any of them.

A cigar-smoking croc with attitude is ready to hold your beverage while you sit in your favorite chair enjoying a book or ballgame on TV. His tray has beautiful inlaid marquetry and a brass gallery. Whimsy defines this accessory of a well-dressed turn-of-the-century lady strolling the avenue with her pet alligator. It's sure to get a second look because of it's absurdity.

A bat-swinging, baseball playing croc is a fun accessory that makes a statement on a desk or table.

This croc is using his tail to hold a favorite summertime wine.

These are fun pieces that are sure to generate comments from your friends. If you happen to know a Florida Gator fan, these would make wonderful gifts.

Besides these items, Maitland-Smith has other alligator pieces for desk and tabletop. Visit the website, to see more crocs as well as monkeys, turtles and other critters that will add a touch of whimsy to your home.

Elegant and distinctive pieces for your home today, with quality and style to last a lifetime…..Do you have a Maitland-Smith treasure?

05/07/2014

Kermit the Frog sings a song, "It isn't easy being green...." But the frog's life can't be all that bad. By the time Kermit finishes the song, he says, "I am green, and it'll do fine, it's beautiful! And I think it's what I want to be."

We all love Kermit, and frogs, despite being amphibians, are sometimes kind of cute.

At the recent April market, we introduced several accessories with the popular frog motif.

First is a best-selling new lamp added to the Maitland-Smith collection of lighting. The cast brass frog is flying his kite of tiger penshell, while standing on his lily pad. A real conversaton starter, it is sure to be noticed because of its whimsy.

Next we have a helpful frog who is happy to hold and display your favorite summertime wine. He, too is cast brass and has dyed green penshell accents.

In case you are wondering, penshell is a mollusk found in abundance in the tropical waters of the western Pacific. Tiger Penshell is so named because of the coloration of gold and brown. It can be used in a variety of ways, most notably as lamp shades because of the beautiful diffusion of light.

This frog's umbrella got away with him on a windy day. For this accessory, the umbrella forms a bowl that can be used to hold soaps in the powder room, or keys on an entry table.

If you love frogs, be sure to check our website where we have other frog-inspired lamps and accessories.

Kermit the Frog is known for his quotes, so I leave you with this one:

"Here's some simple advice: Always be yourself. Never take yourself too seriously. And beware of advice from experts, pigs and from members of Parliament." Good advice.

Elegant and distinctive pieces for your home today, with quality and style to last a lifetime..... Do you have a Maitland-Smith treasure? www.maitland-smith.com

This year the showhouse is open from May 3-18 in the penthouse of the Founders Tower, Oklahoma City's most exclusive address, and will feature stunning rooms by designers and furnishings retailers in the Oklahoma City area.

Mr. Robert's is responsible for the master bedroom, master closet and library. Here are a few sneak peeks of the rooms done by the talented designers at Mr. Robert's.

This gorgeous bedroom features several Maitland-Smith and La Barge pieces. The black lacquer chest of drawers on the left of the bed is Maitland-Smith as well as the hair hide mirror to the right. The venetian mirror is La Barge, as is the sunburst mirror reflected in the hair hide mirror below. The leather inlaid king bed is by our sister company, Henredon.

The sitting area in the master bedroom beckons with the cozy colorful sofa and fun throw pillows.

Here's a closeup of the La Barge sunburst mirror. The goose that laid the golden egg is a Maitland-Smith accessory as well as the faux zebra hairhide bench seen to the right.

The library is eye-catching with the flashes of color and whimsical with Maitland-Smith dancing turtles and marble and brass penguins.

The handsome writing desk in the library is also by Henredon.

Under the console in a hallway is a pair of stacking faux hair hide boxes from the Celerie Kemble for Maitland-Smith collection.

If you live in the Oklahoma City area, you won't want to miss visiting the show house to see all the beautiful rooms and latest trends in home furnishings. You will be contributing to the arts as well.

Mr. Robert Fine Furniture and Design has as their motto, "beautifying the world, one room at a time," and these photos confirm that motto. For your home furnishings needs, visit Mr. Robert at 109 E. Main, Norman, where they have been doing business for over 50 years. www.maitland-smith.com

Elegant and distinctive pieces for your home today, with quality and style to last a lifetime…..Do you have a Maitland-Smith treasure?

01/31/2014

Today is Chinese New Year, and 2014 has been designated the Year of the Horse. Those born in these years are said to be "cheerful, skillful with money, perceptive, witty, talented and good with their hands." It promises to be a good year for them and for us as well.

Horses are beautiful, majestic creatures that are loved by many, either for riding, showing, racing, or just admiring the gait and wind in the mane when they are running free.

To celebrate the Year of the Horse, or just because you love horses, why not bring the horse motif into your home either through an accessory or other equestrian-inspired item such as this beautiful hand-carved horse head in marble?

Or how about this handsome ebony bronze finished cast brass horse head on a glass base?

Beautiful on a desk or shelf is this antique and dark bronze finished cast brass armored horse on a dark snakeskin stone base.

Now to organize your desk, you can use a a stirrup-motif file/paper holder as a functional reminder of your love of all things equestrian.

While we are thinking of the home office, you must have equestrian-themed lighting for your desk. The Celerie Kemble for Maitland-Smith collection features this small, stitched leather-inlaid table lamp with brass in a stirrup motif. The shade is hand-sewn silk. Another unique lamp is inlaid with hand-tooled leather and features riding gear. The custom finial is a small riding helmet.

These are just a few of the many horse-inspired items found at Maitland-Smith. Visit our website to see more. www.maitland-smith.com

Happy New Year to those who celebrate, and let's hope it is a good year for us all.

Elegant and distinctive pieces for your home today, with quality and style to last a lifetime..... Do you have a Maitland-Smith treasure?

01/09/2014

Brrrr - It's cold here in North Carolina and pretty much all across America. At least for us, it is bright and sunny (and dry for the moment).

When it is this cold outside, it is somehow easier to endure if the sun is shining brightly. If dark and gloomy outside, a sunburst mirror can bring the sun indoors as well as reflect the cozy lamp light.

This surely must have been the inspiration behind sunburst mirrors.

Credit for their introduction goes back to the 17th century to France's King Louis XIV. He is described as the "Sun King," and for his emblem, he chose to use Apollo's head surrounded by the rays of the sun. See image below. And we all know how he loved mirrors... right? (Hall of Mirrors, Versailles).

Pictured left is a La Barge sunburst mirror, and with the lamp light, the space appears warm and inviting. Pull up a wing chair next to the light, grab the novel you have been reading, a cup of cocoa, and you are all set.

Typically, sunburst mirrors are round, as is the sun, but they don't have to be.

This La Barge sunburst mirror is oval and definitely makes a statement because of its size: It is 40 inches wide and 66 inches high. It can be hung either vertically or horizontally with lots of pizzazz.

Another shape for a sunburst mirror is this rectangular one. It is large also: 47 inches wide by 61 inches high. Both of these mirrors still represent the sun but with lots of personality.

Until this cold front moves on, be sure to stay warm and toasty inside, and keep looking for the sun (and perhaps a new sunburst mirror).